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The best bathing suits aren’t always practical—Raquel Welch’s prehistoric two-piece wouldn’t have lasted long in open waters—but they’re impossible to forget. With a little help from InStyle Fashion Director Hal Rubenstein, we've compiled a slideshow of the most iconic swimsuits ever.

Brigitte Bardot, The Girl In The Bikini, 1952
Four years before her performance in And God Created Woman established Brigitte Bardot as an international sex symbol, she was made a stir as The Girl in the Bikini. And it’s easy to see why: The pale two-piece she wore in the 1952 film was simple, yet sensational.